Not all of them apply to every situation or everyone, but in some cases, they could save your life or the life of the person you love.
The world isn’t all sunshine, rainbows, and cuddly pandas. Neither is it as scary, and on the verge of collapse as some news channels might tell you. Either way, most of you might agree that our safety and the safety of those we love should be our top priorities.
Here are some of the few safety tips that everyone should know to protect themselves and loved one’s from danger:
1. Don’t set your home address on any gadgets, instead to an address near your home but not your home address. If someone steals your phone or breaks into your car while you are away from home, you do not want the crook to attempt to rob your house or call friends in the area to do so. Theoretically, any paperwork in a car containing your home address should be locked up in the glove compartment to minimize the risk of that information being misused for similar nefarious purposes. Still, realistically, that is an inconvenience that most people are unwilling to endure, and papers are less likely than electronics to get swiped during a quick break-in.
2. Do not overshare on social media. People tend to post vacation pictures while still far from home – but if the wrong sets of eyes see such information, it can lead to attempts to rob your house. Also, do not respond to social-media invitations to events that involve all the residents of your home – doing so can let the public know in advance that nobody will be home at a specific time. There are so many other examples of what not to share on social media – the bottom line is to think twice before posting and, whenever possible, use technology to address any mistakes.
3. Lock up dangerous medications, especially those that are candidates for abuse. If you have such prescription drugs at home, do not store them in medicine cabinets accessible by visitors or anywhere else where visitors may encounter them. You do not know the personal demons of everyone who visits your home – many people suffer from addiction issues; the same may even hold for the other residents of your home.
4. Check for hidden cameras. Before making a credit card payment or using an ATM, check the device for added-on cameras or “skimming technology.” If a card reader appears to have been tampered with, or something appears strange about an ATM, find another machine and notify someone in the store or bank that something may be amiss. Do the same for any machine that takes a biometric read of yourself – if something seems to have been added to the device, do not provide the system with your fingerprints or allow it to scan your iris, etc.
5. Use flashlights during emergencies. Do not use candles for light during power failures caused by wind-related weather conditions (e.g., hurricanes) until after the adverse weather has passed. Besides the fact that candles can be dangerous in general (especially if there are children in the home and if the candles are carried around when walking through the house), strong winds can hurl objects through windows – creating situations where candles are exposed to wind that can knock them over and start a dangerous fire.
Dealing with safety in life and watching each other’s back can be one way of being safe. The book “Grey Feathers: Led by Love of Country” by Daniel M. Dewald is a story of war heroism and camaraderie. The story is about the 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Division serving in the Republic of South Vietnam from 1967-1970. The story is derived from operation reports, battle scenes, magazine articles, interviews, and experience incurred in battle conditions. The book describes the events and shows how unselfish and brave the unit responded to overcome enemy advances. It also shows the difficulties of decision-making under fire. The pressures of battle forced quick decisions and movements. Each man earned their grey feather, which was a symbol of each being brave in adverse conditions. We all watch each other’s back and ensure that all hostilities are met honorably and with force.
Everyone talks about safety; you are the key to your safety; when you do it safely, you do it the right way, and the perfect gift you can give to your family is always to stay safe. It is everyone’s concern and responsibility.
Alex Writes 